PIL Seeks Probe into Child Deaths Linked to Cough Syrup
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding a court-supervised investigation into the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan possibly linked to a contaminated cough syrup. The petition calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, a review of regulatory controls, and seizure of suspect medicines.
Petition Details
The PIL, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, urges that a national scientific body be set up under a retired Supreme Court judge, tasked with investigating how the cough syrup was manufactured, tested, and distributed. It seeks transfer of all relevant state-level FIRs to the CBI for unified, impartial oversight. The petitioner also asks for a freeze on sales and exports of the implicated product, subjecting it to analysis in accredited laboratories.
Allegations on Contaminated Syrup
The cough syrup in question, Coldrif, is manufactured by Sresan Pharma, a Tamil Nadu firm. Authorities have flagged the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent. Some tests report extremely high levels of DEG in syrup samples. At the same time, government agencies have stated that several samples collected did not show contamination by DEG or ethylene glycol (EG). A multi-agency team is now probing alternate causes and different product batches across states.
Government Response
In response to the deaths, the Centre has issued an advisory restricting cough syrup use in very young children, stating such medicines should not be dispensed for those under two years. The Health Ministry also called for stricter state oversight and sample testing. States like Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have banned the suspected batch, begun recalls, and initiated legal action against manufacturers and prescribing doctors.
Call for Stronger Regulation
The PIL seeks a Supreme Court order requiring stronger regulatory safeguards such as batch-level monitoring, uniform state audits, and oversight by a judicially supervised expert panel to prevent future tragedies.
